Left ventricular (LV) failure causes shortness of breath and fatigue, and right ventricular (RV) failure causes peripheral and abdominal. read more ) dependent edema, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea ( heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction. Causes, symptoms, treatment, preventive measures, and. Initial diagnosis is usually based on chest x-ray and clinical findings. read more, myocardial ischemia, pneumonia Overview of Pneumonia Pneumonia is acute inflammation of the lungs caused by infection. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s health care and quality of care issues.Review of systems should seek symptoms of possible causes, including chest pain or pressure ( pulmonary embolism Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the occlusion of pulmonary arteries by thrombi that originate elsewhere, typically in the large veins of the legs or pelvis. Supplemental oxygen may be used as needed.Ī reduced salt diet and a regimen to reduce one’s weight will be suggested, if needed. A physical exam, EKG and chest X-ray will be performed along with blood work to determine the best plan.ĭiuretics, vasodilators and drugs to make the heart beat more strongly may be prescribed. If you suddenly find yourself awakened with PND, regardless of cause, it is best to seek immediate medical attention as there is no way, without further testing and evaluation, to know what is causing it.ĭoctors treat heart conditions with a variety of drugs to improve the function and oxygenation of the heart muscle. Chronic respiratory diseases such as emphysema PND is a term that may be used loosely to describe any sudden shortness of breath at night. There are also non-cardiac reasons for PND. Having had episodes of orthopnea or dyspnea with exertion As the extra load of fluid returns to the heart, it is unable to manage the load.Ĭommon cardiac causes for PND include: (2,4) A person with PND does not sense this diminished air exchange until a couple of hours have passed, then they bolt up out of bed, gasping for breath.Ī person with PND frequently also has some swelling in her legs or feet (edema), which is caused by their poorly pumping heart not managing their circulation well. PND can be confused with another conditions called orthopnea, which is a feeling of shortness of breath after lying down but is improved by sitting or standing.Ī person who feels short of breath as soon as they lie down is considered to have orthopnea. It then gets backed up into their lungs, narrowing the space for air to come in and be exchanged for carbon dioxide. In someone with cardiac disease, fluid that has seeped into the tissues during the day shifts back into the circulation at night, and the blood vessels carry the fluid to the heart and lungs.Ī person with a poorly pumping heart cannot handle the extra fluid. In a healthy person, fluid shifts are unperceivable. The mechanism behind PND is related to the fluid shifting that occurs when a person lies down at night to sleep.
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